Scores of one-bedroom flats to be built in central Darlington

SCORES of one-bedroom flats will be created when a former tax office is transformed this summer.

The 47 town centre properties are set to be housed in Darlington’s Regent House, which has stood empty on the town’s Commerical Street for several years.

Flats built as part of the development will, once finished, be offered as social housing.

Demand for one-bedroom properties in the region has grown dramatically since the implementation of the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ left many single people classed as under-occupying their homes.

The flats at Regent House are being built in partnership with Darlington Borough Council by Coast & Country Housing as part of their Empty Homes project, which aims to address the issue of long-term empty homes while providing training, volunteering and work opportunities.

The development will be funded by the national Homes and Communities Agency, which provides investment for new affordable housing and the improvement of existing social housing.

Iain Sim, chief executive of Coast & Country Housing said: “Bringing empty properties back into use has a very positive effect on the local community.

“By contributing to the regeneration of area, tackling disrepair, bringing about improvements to the neighbourhood and alleviating concerns about semi-derelict properties and their role in attracting anti-social behaviour and crime, Coast & Country aims to build stronger communities for the future.”

He added: “This exciting partnership with Darlington Borough Council will bring Regent House back to life and provide quality, affordable housing.”

Situated in a prime town centre location, the properties are expected to be ready for occupation by spring next year with building work scheduled to begin at the end of the month.

The development has been welcomed by Councillor Veronica Copeland, the council's cabinet member for adult social care and housing.

She said: “I welcome the start of this project. There is a strong demand for one bedroom properties in Darlington and the refurbishment of Regent House will enable the council to meet this need.

“Working with Coast & Country enables us to bring back into use an empty building and offer local people modern accommodation in a central location close to shops and workplaces.”

Comments (8)

Regent House was acquired by the Council for the Oval Shopping Centre - Which has fell on its head, due to no large retailers are interested in the low shopping foot fall in Darlington.

The employees at the Regent House Tax office were transferred to Thornaby, thus reducing the town centre shopping foot fall even more.

Now the embarrassed Council has dreamt up a back-up plan after years of being the custodian of the empty building at the expense to the council tax-payers.

Councillor Veronica Copeland, Lesley Conroy, Michael Conyard (DBC), Iain Sim and Ronny Harris may be all smiles, but I am afraid this article only highlights their complacency.

Let’s scratch a little deeper,
Regent House was acquired by the Council for the Oval Shopping Centre - Which has fell on its head, due to no large retailers are interested in the low shopping foot fall in Darlington.
The employees at the Regent House Tax office were transferred to Thornaby, thus reducing the town centre shopping foot fall even more.
Now the embarrassed Council has dreamt up a back-up plan after years of being the custodian of the empty building at the expense to the council tax-payers.
Councillor Veronica Copeland, Lesley Conroy, Michael Conyard (DBC), Iain Sim and Ronny Harris may be all smiles, but I am afraid this article only highlights their complacency.BMD

You may well be right. But the availability of so much nice new one bedroom accommodation will help with the relocation of people with spare bedrooms and rehousing of families living in cramped premises. Win-win except for the lefties who will find fault.

You may well be right. But the availability of so much nice new one bedroom accommodation will help with the relocation of people with spare bedrooms and rehousing of families living in cramped premises. Win-win except for the lefties who will find fault.David Lacey

I think the question is 'will the accommodation be affordable?'
Rent and buying prices are going stupid again because of one city in-particular, and this is again having the knock on effect of causing 'normal' house and flat costs to soar.
If DBC are in control of these flats will the rent be at a sensible level or will they do the old 'average price' money grabbing trick caused by the Capitals' narcissistic greed?

I think the question is 'will the accommodation be affordable?'
Rent and buying prices are going stupid again because of one city in-particular, and this is again having the knock on effect of causing 'normal' house and flat costs to soar.
If DBC are in control of these flats will the rent be at a sensible level or will they do the old 'average price' money grabbing trick caused by the Capitals' narcissistic greed?JJ2000

Should have been used to create jobs , not recoup housing benefit.
The department of education was willing to move jobs from Darlington to Newcastle without a thought , Darlington council should have give them a bloody nose and told them to transfer ALL the department from Newcastle to Darlington , just for suggesting such a ludicious idea.Regent House could have been used for generating that employment.

Should have been used to create jobs , not recoup housing benefit.
The department of education was willing to move jobs from Darlington to Newcastle without a thought , Darlington council should have give them a bloody nose and told them to transfer ALL the department from Newcastle to Darlington , just for suggesting such a ludicious idea.Regent House could have been used for generating that employment.Savant_NE

Regent House was acquired by the Council for the Oval Shopping Centre - Which has fell on its head, due to no large retailers are interested in the low shopping foot fall in Darlington.

The employees at the Regent House Tax office were transferred to Thornaby, thus reducing the town centre shopping foot fall even more.

Now the embarrassed Council has dreamt up a back-up plan after years of being the custodian of the empty building at the expense to the council tax-payers.

Councillor Veronica Copeland, Lesley Conroy, Michael Conyard (DBC), Iain Sim and Ronny Harris may be all smiles, but I am afraid this article only highlights their complacency.

I think that's mostly wrong...

The Inland Revenue had been loooking to get out of Darlington for some time (as part of its national closure programme.) It was going to happen anyway.

The Council didn't buy Regent House, but developers and the Council saw the site as being part of a wider scheme to provide leisure, retail and a MSCP to regenerate the Commercial Street end of the town centre.

That fell through when a single large department store 'anchor' for the site could not be found. (Debenhams continue to look at the North Echo offices premises. The cinema is now being built on Feethams)

This scheme seems a good way of recycling a redundant building in Darlington, bring residents into the heart of the town, which should help with the vitality of the town centre too.

[quote][p][bold]BMD[/bold] wrote:
Let’s scratch a little deeper,
Regent House was acquired by the Council for the Oval Shopping Centre - Which has fell on its head, due to no large retailers are interested in the low shopping foot fall in Darlington.
The employees at the Regent House Tax office were transferred to Thornaby, thus reducing the town centre shopping foot fall even more.
Now the embarrassed Council has dreamt up a back-up plan after years of being the custodian of the empty building at the expense to the council tax-payers.
Councillor Veronica Copeland, Lesley Conroy, Michael Conyard (DBC), Iain Sim and Ronny Harris may be all smiles, but I am afraid this article only highlights their complacency.[/p][/quote]I think that's mostly wrong...
The Inland Revenue had been loooking to get out of Darlington for some time (as part of its national closure programme.) It was going to happen anyway.
The Council didn't buy Regent House, but developers and the Council saw the site as being part of a wider scheme to provide leisure, retail and a MSCP to regenerate the Commercial Street end of the town centre.
That fell through when a single large department store 'anchor' for the site could not be found. (Debenhams continue to look at the North Echo offices premises. The cinema is now being built on Feethams)
This scheme seems a good way of recycling a redundant building in Darlington, bring residents into the heart of the town, which should help with the vitality of the town centre too.Luther95